CA2187157A1 - Pole - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pole, particularly a wood pole (1). To improve the versatility of the pole, the center part (2) of the pole according to the invention is provided with a borehole (3) extending longitudinally through the pole.

Description

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. ' 1 ~ ` 2 1 8 7 1 5 7 Pole The present invention relates to a pole, particularly a wood pole.

Conventionally, lighting poles, decoration poles and other poles are manufactured as wood, plastic or metal poles. An advantage of metal or plastic poles is the possibility of making such poles with a hollow core, whereby an electrical cable, electrical conductor or a device may be inserted in a protected space inside the pole. Elowever, metal poles have been plagued by a high pricQand plastic poles have been lacking sufficient durabi lity .
In 601id-wood poles the electrical cable or similar element or other device must be placed onto the pole perimeter or in a groove made thereto in a coverable manner . An electrical cable or similar element f ixed on the pole perimeter is easily damaged and the installation thereof in a purpose-made groove and subsequent covering of the groove are awkward operations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a 2s wood pole capable of overcoming the drawbacks of conven-tional poles. It is a particular object of the invention to provide a wood pole in which an electrical cable or similar element can be mounted in a safe place in a simple and cost-ef f icient manner. It is still another object of the invention to provide a wood pole having a durable structure.
The goal o~ the invention i9 achieved by means of a pole characterized by what is stated in the al~pellded claims.
3s According to the invention, the center of the pole is provided with a borehole extending longit~ n~l ly through Wo 95127113 r~llr~
; ` 2 2 1 8 7 1 5 7 the pole. Such a borehole is advantageously suited for placing an electrical cable, an electrical conductor or other device. Then, the electrical cable or similar element is protected inside the pole. Making a borehole in a wood pole i8 easy, and an electrical cable or similar element can be easily threaded into the borehole or into a conduit inserted in the borehole. By placing the borehole along the center axis of a lighting pole, an extra advantage is gained therein that volumetric move-ment of the wood caused by humidity variations cannot af f ect the center part of the pole and the electrical cable, electrical conductor or other device located therein. By virtue of the center borehole, the wood will dry evenly f rom its center and outer parts, and checks in the perimeter of the pole are avoided. ~lol~:.,vt:l-, the center borehole can be arranged to conduct an airf low, whereby the borehole becomes ventilated.
In the following the invention is described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Figure l is a partially sectioned side view of an embodi-ment of the pole according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the lighting pole illustrated in Fig. l;
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the butt part of the pole and connection boxes mounted thereto;
Figur~ 5 il- n nide view o~ ~ pol~ nccording to th0 invention; and Figure 6 illustrates the top part of the pole shown in Fig. 5 in an enlarged scale.
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W0 95/27113 I ~ l~r. -1 ;3 ~ ;~ 3 ;~ 1 8 i 1 5 7 Referring to the figures, a lighting pole l illustrated therein is made from wood and is treated with a suitable preservative to assure a long service of the lighting pole. For this purpose, a conventional preservative is s used capable of preventing the wood f rom decaying and stopping the ~ VG ~ of the wood due to changes in the ambient relative humidity. To the center 2 of the pole is drilled a borehole 3 extending from end to end through the pole along its center axis. Into the borehole is inserted a conduit 4 and an electrical cable may be placed into the conduit by threading the cable through the conduit. When connecting the lighting poles in series, a connection box 5 of the conductors is mounted in a recess drilled to the butt pnrt of the pole at a suitable mounting height. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the method of mounting the connection boxes in the pole.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, in the 'i L shown therein the pole is shaved into a sixteen-facet form and retaining the natural taper of the wood toward its top.
E . g ., when the pole length is f our meters , the butt diameter may be approx. 120 mm, while the top diameter is approx. 80 mm. Also other alternative shapes are possible, whereby the poles in some applications may have longit~ inA11y a constant cross section and/or circular 2s cross section.
To a person versed in the art, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the exemplifying advantageous ~i- t degcribed above, but rather, can be varied within the inventive scope and spirit of the ,IL l,~nd~d claims .

Claims (3)

Claims:

1. A pole, particularly a wood pole (1), c h a r a c -t e r i z e d in that the center part (2) of the pole is provided with a borehole (3) extending longitudinally through the pole.

2. A pole as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r -i z e d in that into said borehole (3) is placed an electrical cable, electrical conductor or other device.

3. A pole as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c -t e r i z e d in that into said borehole is inserted a conduit (4) into which an electrical cable or similar element is placed.